Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-23
THE GOVERNORS BALL.
Brilliant Scene at the Guards ar
senal Last Night.


The Guards Arsenal was a brilliant
scene last night. 1t was filled with Sa-
vannah's youth and beauty. The Gov
ernor's ball has been the talk Of society
for weeks, and when at last the night
came-the eve of Lent, when the social
world ceases to be gait was with light
hearts that hundreds OF gay dancers giided
over the smOoth-pOlished floor, keeping
time to soft music, and watching the ka.
kaleidoscope OF beauty that moved under
the bright gas jets, before the midnight
hour arrived.
1t was the most brilliant bali that Sa-
vannah has had in many years. Florists
and decorators were busy all day in CORR
doris and club rooms and in the main
hall.
FLAGS AND FLOWERS.
The walls were covered with flags and
bunting. Tall tropical plants waved and
sweet flowers she'd their perfume through
the elegantly furnished rooms. The
principal floral decorations were in the
parlors and club rooms. The only at
tempt at decoration in the main hall be-
sides arranging the battalion colors was
coat of arms of the State built OF
moss and everg.eens, studded with
yellow and red roses and iapOnicas, and
serving as background for the dais
upon which were the Governor, Mrs.
and Miss Gordon and the lady managers
Of the ball. In the centre OF the arch was
portrait, heroic size, of Gov. Gordon,
painted by MIR. Carl l.. Brandt, Director
of the Telfair Ac ademy, and presented TO
the Guards at their meeting on Monday
night. The decoration OF the dais was
the work of Daily, and was admirably
done.
THE RECEPTION ROOMS.
In the corridor and reception rooms
the decorations appeared at their best.
Here, as elsewhere, flowers and ever
greens were tremendously arranged. AT
the head of the stairs were banked pots Of
choice plants and beautiful flowers. All
OF the work was skilltul and artistic. The
spacious supper rooms on the first floor
were also decorated. aud the decorations
here were most elaborate and
effective. The tables were COW
cred with bouquets and baskets
OF roses. The chandeliers were
twined with moss and rose vines, studded
with japonicas, and the walls were hung
with flags and bunting. The Governors
supper room, on the second floor, was
also richly decorated. The immense
building, from the entrance all the way
to the arched root, was bright with
cOlors.
GOING TO THE BALL.
Long before 8 o'clock President street.
near the arsenal, began TO present an
unusual scene. Carriages began arriy-
ing with handsomely dressed ladies' and
their escorts. The crowd OF the unlimited
gathered outside the building on the side
walks TO zee what IL could and admire
the dresses. Every one thought the ball
would open late, as the hour fixed was
for 10 O'Clock, but by 8 O'Clock carriage
load after carriage load came, and soon
the LOBBY began TO fill and the crowd hur-
ried on. The carriages, by order OF the
police, came up from Ball street. and de-
posted tneir freight and whirled away
out Whitaker. 1t was $3.50 before the
rush began. The opening dance was an
nounced for 10 O'Clock, and as soon as the
ladies made their appearance from the
dressing rooms they were ushe red into tn e
dancing hall.
THE DANCING HALL.
The front seats in the spectators gal
lery were taken early, and when the ball
opened there was hardly standing room
to be had. A double row OF orchestra
chairs was placed around the hall, and
even when these were filled the floor was
still crowded.
The lady managers were escorted from
the dressing rooms by members OF the
committee 10 seats upon the dias at the
west end of the hall, in the centre Of
which chairs were reserved for the Gov
arnor and Mrs. and MISS Gordon.
Those who occupied the seats Of honor
were Mrs. John l.. Hammond, Mrs. r. NJ.
Cunningham, Mrs. j. Z. 5. Houstoun,
Mrs. X. II. Footman, Mrs. W. 4. Guerard,
Mrs. j. G. Hey ward, Mrs. Henry X. Jack
son, Mrs. Il. q. Arnold, Mrs. Lee Roy
Myers, Mrs. X. +. Lester, Mrs. Lewis
Kayton, Mrs. John N. Byran.
THE FIRST DANCE.
it vas considerably after 10 O'Clock
before the first strains OF music were
heard, aud midnight had sounded before
the ball was at it's height While the
overture was played there was not
foot stirred. The hearts OF
some of the debutsntos fluttered
with feeling akin 70 fear as they thought
OF the great smooth floor walled
in by rows OF people, whence curl
ous eyes would STARE at them
and tongues would discuss their
appearance in tones not always kind
The scene was one 20 justify for mo-
ment every fear. The flashing Of Jewels,
the perfume OF flowers, and the soft music
OF the waltz made many young dancer